Zella Ann (Nehl) Lemer, 77, of Spearfish, SD, died Saturday, April 21, 2007 at Edgewood Vista Assisted Living in Spearfish.

Visitation will be from 1:00PM until 5:00PM on Tuesday, April 24, 2007, at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel in Spearfish.

Vigil services will be at 7:00PM, on Tuesday, April 24, 2007, at Saint Joseph's Catholic Church in Spearfish. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00AM, on Wednesday, April 25, 2007, at Saint Joseph's Catholic Church, with Father Tim Hoag as Celebrant, Committal Services will be at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD.

A memorial has been established to benefit Saint Joseph's Catholic Church Building Fund.

Zella was born March 30, 1930 at Watauga, Corson County, SD, at the Nehl homestead to Art and Sara (Staudenrous) Nehl.

Zella drove tractor on the family farm/ranch beginning at age10. She attended grade school at Watauga and graduated from McIntosh High School in 1949. Zella married Peter James Lemer in Watauga at Saint Michael's Catholic Church on May 23, 1957. To this union two daughters were born, Denise Darcel and Debora Kay. She lived in the Watauga/McIntosh area all of her life until moving to Spearfish in 1995.

Zella served the residents of Corson County for 41 years as the Corson County Auditor. She was active in the Saint Boneventure Altar Society as well as the Ralph T. Ankerson Post of the American Legion Auxiliary for many years in McIntosh. She was also a member of Saint Joseph's Catholic Church of Spearfish.

Zella is survived by her two daughters, Denise Trogstad and special friend Steve Sheldon of Lemmon, SD, and Debora (Clarence) Casados of Spearfish, one brother Earl Nehl of Seattle, WA, one sister Rose Seiler of McIntosh, seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Zella was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Pete on November 23, 1988, three brothers; Robert, John, and Ted Nehl, and fours sisters; Gladys Nehl, Frances Nehl, Eleanor Baumberger, and Kay Varland.